The dangers of an emotional affair can first be spotted with very subtle and sometimes misleading signs.
Are you feeling suspicious about your partner’s new "friend?" If you’re like most people, it’s easy to question yourself and worry you’re being paranoid. (Especially if your partner vehemently denies any wrongdoing).
But just like a good detective can lift unseen prints from the scene of a crime, you too have access to subtle clues that might mean trouble. In fact, there is one very distinct sign that may indicate the presence of an affair: You can feel your partner withdrawing emotionally.
The dead-giveaway fingerprint of an affair—emotional or otherwise—is when one person suddenly stops being emotionally engaged with their partner. This can take many forms.
* Does your partner suddenly feel more contemptuous of you, or like they’re silently comparing you to someone else?
* Are they suddenly less interested in sex?
* Are they recently more invested in other parts of their life (going back to school, their job, a new social club) that you can’t be a part of, and that they don’t want to talk about with you?
* Are there things that they used to fight with you about, but now they just sort of roll their eyes at you and leave the room instead?
Here’s why these signs can point to an affair:
A very famous family therapist by the name of Murray Bowen first described the phenomena of "triangulation" in his family systems research in the 60s and 70s. He observed a common pattern where:
* Person A has a problem with person B
* Person A avoids solving the problem with person B
* Person A tells Person C all about it instead.
Even though nothing changes with person B, person A feels better after sharing with person C.
This is highly problematic for a relationship. Not only does Person B not have the opportunity to work on things with Person A, but Person C feels like an easy, friendly oasis of compassion and caring in comparison.
Person C doesn’t make demands on Person A. In fact, Person C thinks that person A is wonderful, and entirely justified in their negative assessment of person B.
It quickly feels less important for Person A to resolve things with Person B because their emotional needs are being met by Person C. Person C is now their confidant, their supporter, and their friend. Person B has been demoted to the emotional status of an annoying roommate that must be grudgingly tolerated.
An emotional affair has been born.
Sadly for person B, they often don’t realize that this shift has happened. In fact, they are more likely feel that things are suddenly getting better in their marriage even though nothing has changed. Person A isn’t fighting with them anymore, and might seem more content. Maybe they don’t talk as much, or Person A is always busy, but at least you’re peacefully coexisting, right?
Wrong. If your spouse has stopped participating in a meaningful way, your marriage is in trouble. If they are no longer interested in expending the energy and effort in attempting to resolve problems with you, it can mean they’ve either solved the problem elsewhere or stopped believing that positive change is possible. Either can be the death rattle of a marriage.
Furthermore, emotional affairs are essentially the first stage of a serious-for-real capital "A" Affair, with clandestine sex, escape fantasies, and all. Attractive strangers don’t typically encounter each other in a hotel elevator and start ripping each other’s clothes off. Fluttery sparkle feelings lead to texts, to coffee, and to lunch before, over time, they progress to make-out attacks. This must be nipped in the bud.
The biggest problem with emotional affairs is that it is very easy for people engaging in them to be genuinely in denial about what is really happening, even while it’s progressing. "We are just friends!" they insist, often defensively. This is quickly followed by statements like, "I should be allowed to have friends!" "You don’t own me!" and "I need someone to talk to!"
You can’t help but agree, rationally, that all these things are true. However, if your gut instincts—and the withdrawal you’re experiencing—tell you something is wrong, trust your feelings.
If any of what I’ve described is sounding familiar to you, run don’t walk to a competent, licensed marriage counselor for help. If your partner won’t go with you, go by yourself. Your relationship may be in serious danger, and you deserve to have support and guidance to negotiate the potentially perilous journey of ahead.
Growing back together again requires courage and radical honesty. While you can’t control your husband or wife, you can control yourself. By choosing to confront the situation bravely and honestly, you can take the first step towards healing.
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby, LMFT, BCC is the founder of Growing Self Counseling and Coaching in Denver, Colorado, author of "Exaholics: Breaking Your Addiction to Your Ex Love," and the host of The Love, Happiness and Success Podcast.
